Hyundai Motor Group Develops Hydrogen Production Technology Using Biogas

Hyundai Motor Group is embarking on the production of clean hydrogen using biogas generated during the food waste treatment process.

On the 29th, Hyundai Motor Group signed an MOU for "Joint Technology Development and Business Promotion for Eco-friendly Hydrogen Production Using Biogas" at the Hyundai Construction headquarters located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Representatives from Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, Hyundai Construction, and the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation (hereafter referred to as the Landfill Corporation) attended the signing ceremony.

This agreement aims to demonstrate a system capable of producing 216 kg of eco-friendly hydrogen daily over the next two years by utilizing biogas produced by the Landfill Corporation. This amount is sufficient to charge more than 34 units of Hyundai’s hydrogen electric vehicle, Nexo.

When food waste is fermented, biogas primarily composed of methane is generated. Through refining and reforming processes, high-purity clean hydrogen can be produced. Such resource-circulating hydrogen production technology, which produces eco-friendly energy sources by utilizing waste resources, is gaining attention.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia will be responsible for building an integrated system for the catalytic reaction process. Hyundai Construction will develop gas selective separation technology during the hydrogen production process. The Landfill Corporation will research biogas pretreatment technology and provide research sites and facility infrastructure, including biogas as the raw material for hydrogen production.

Hyundai Motor Group signed an MOU on the 29th at the Hyundai Construction headquarters with Hyundai Construction and the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation to jointly develop technology and promote projects for eco-friendly hydrogen production using biogas. (From left in the photo) Hong Seung-hyun, Head of Basic Materials Research Center at Hyundai Motor and Kia; Yeom Kyung-seop, Director of Resource Circulation Technology Research Institute at Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation; Park Gu-yong, Director of Technology Research Institute at Hyundai Construction. Photo by Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group plans to enhance its eco-friendly hydrogen production capabilities while simultaneously researching renewable synthetic fuel (e-fuel) production technology. The plan includes securing technology to apply renewable synthetic fuel, which can be additionally obtained during the hydrogen production process, to existing internal combustion engine vehicles. At the same time, they will develop technology to synthesize clean hydrogen and carbon monoxide to create eco-friendly plastic materials, advancing closer to achieving carbon neutrality goals.

Hong Seung-hyun, Executive Director of the Basic Materials Research Center at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, stated, "Through this agreement, we intend to conduct in-depth research and demonstration of resource-circulating energy technologies to achieve carbon neutrality. We plan to develop this into high value-added technologies such as renewable synthetic fuel and eco-friendly plastic interior material production, leading the industry as a global carbon neutrality leader."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.